Baseball

[zebano]

The 2k9 season starts soon, chat it up...

Personally after last year I'm rather excited about the Twinkies. They're in a relatively weak division, the Joe Crede pickup looks solid, and their starting pitchers now have a year under their belt. All the early injuries (Mauer, Baker) as well as their lack of new relievers is worrying, but if they hit like they did last year, watch out.

Once again, I expect the AL East to be the best division in baseball but I figure the Rays to have a sophmore slump with the perennial powerhouses Boston and NY making the playoffs (no logic, just intuition here).

The NL central with the departure of CC Sabathia won't be nearly as interesting. I don't like most of the Cubs off season moves (never pick up anyone based on 1 good year with the A's & letting Wood go was plain stupid) so I expect the Cardinals to run away with it.


Nothing out east or in the NL West has caught my interest.

 

[FelixDeCat]

I hope the Texas Rangers last past August this year.:sun:

 

[rbV5]

? Ichiro has bleeding ulcer

Mariners could be out of it before the end of April....

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: rbV5
? Ichiro has bleeding ulcer

Mariners could be out of it before the end of April....

my favourite player and I have him in my pool.

KT

 

[Queasy]

I'm hoping the Braves can meander their way out of mediocrity this year.

 

[acheron]

AL W/C/E/WC : Angels/Indians/Red Sox/Yankees (I do think the Rays will do very well again but not quite enough to beat both Sox and Yankees)
NL W/C/E/WC : Diamondbacks/Cubs/Mets/Phillies

Red Sox win WS over Mets

I'm sure that will prove to be absurd by about May, but whatever.

I have season tickets (well, 1/9th of a season anyway) for the Nationals this year, so I look forward to seeing many other teams beat them.

 

[rbV5]

Originally posted by: KeithTalent

Originally posted by: rbV5
? Ichiro has bleeding ulcer

Mariners could be out of it before the end of April....

my favourite player and I have him in my pool.

KT

Ouch!

 

[zebano]

Originally posted by: Queasy
I'm hoping the Braves can meander their way out of mediocrity this year.

I wouldn't count on that, but at least you signed Chipper Jones for the rest of his career.

 

[shocksyde]

Going to Opening Day at Camden Yards on Monday!

It'll be fun to watch the O's young players, but our pitching will be the end of us, yet again.

Headed in the right direction, though!

 

[Jeffg010]

I predict the pirates have anther losing season!

 

[GenHoth]

Lets go Cards! If our rotation stays healthy and the bullpen doesn't stink... Of course that pretty much sums up every team in the league!

 

[zebano]

Originally posted by: Jeffg010
I predict the pirates have anther losing season!

Way to go out on a limb there Nostradamus.

 

[ric1287]

Originally posted by: zebano
The 2k9 season starts soon, chat it up...

Personally after last year I'm rather excited about the Twinkies. They're in a relatively weak division, the Joe Crede pickup looks solid, and their starting pitchers now have a year under their belt. All the early injuries (Mauer, Baker) as well as their lack of new relievers is worrying, but if they hit like they did last year, watch out.

hahah they will not hit like last year with or without Mauer, and losing 1 of the only 3 guys on the team who can hit is going to crush them.

 

[DanTMWTMP]

I think the Dodgers will lead the NL west. With Furcal now 100%, Manny back, a solid rotation, and Broxton (I'm hoping he'll be among the top closers in the game after the year is over.. after last year's playoffs, Broxton has been my favorite pitcher these days). Not to mention the dodgers lineup has been together for a good amount of time, there's quite a bit of team cohesion I haven't seen in awhile now. I can't wait!!! GO DODGERS!!!

I'm pumped!

 

[ElFenix]

i wonder if they lowered beer prices at minute maid?

 

[slayer202]

citi field opening day. can't wait

 

[Perknose]

Originally posted by: zebano
I don't like most of the Cubs off season moves (never pick up anyone based on 1 good year with the A's & letting Wood go was plain stupid) so I expect the Cardinals to run away with it.

I'm not crazy about all of the Cubs' moves, either -- trading the sterling Mark DeRosa to the Indians for three nondescript minor leaguers in what looked like a salary dump and then overpaying for the intensely mediocre Aaron Miles as his replacement was a double head-scratcher -- but the Cubs are still loaded while the Cardinals have HUGE, HUGE holes -- remind me, who's their closer again?

 

[Rockinacoustic]

I'm liking the chances of another Subway Series.

 

[evident]

go phillies

 

[anxi80]

ill be at the padres opener on monday. plus fan day on sunday. im hoping a-gon puts up mvp-like numbers, kouz remains solid at the plate while cutting down strikeouts and headley tears it up. im liking the acquisition of eckstein as we could really use his scrappy, tough mentality and we finally have some speed on the base paths. with that said, our pitching... im scared after our #2 starter (young) and whats even scarier is that im saying that in a park that favors picthers. but hopefully prior finally works his way back and a young kid just has great stuff and we give heath bell plenty of chances to close it down in the 9th. peavy has been sharp this spring and besides run support for him im not really all that worried on days he goes out to the hill. im just going to take the season one day at a time and hope for results like the '07 rockies or '08 rays.

edit: and as far as the rest of the division goes... no francis and losing holliday hurts colorado, san fran has pitching but no real bats, for the dodgers after billingsley they might as well randomly pick fans out of the stands to pitch the rest of the series, and arizona is the team to beat in my opinion.

 

[Kyle]

Originally posted by: rbV5
? Ichiro has bleeding ulcer

Mariners could be out of it before the end of April....

Hopefully he's not out too long....I really wish we could have signed Ibanez...

 

[waggy]

GOOO cubs! THIS IS THE YEAR!!!!







...or maybe next year is...

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Originally posted by: rbV5
? Ichiro has bleeding ulcer

Mariners could be out of it before the end of April....

Even with Ichiro at his best they would have been out of it by the end of April.

 

[dbk]

My Prediction:
NL East - Mets
NL Central - Cubs
NL West - Dodgers
NL Wild Card - Phillies

AL East - Yankees
AL Central - Indians
AL West - A's
AL Wild Card - Rays

 

[GenHoth]

Originally posted by: Perknose

Originally posted by: zebano
I don't like most of the Cubs off season moves (never pick up anyone based on 1 good year with the A's & letting Wood go was plain stupid) so I expect the Cardinals to run away with it.

I'm not crazy about all of the Cubs' moves, either -- trading the sterling Mark DeRosa to the Indians for three nondescript minor leaguers in what looked like a salary dump and then overpaying for the intensely mediocre Aaron Miles as his replacement was a double head-scratcher -- but the Cubs are still loaded while the Cardinals have HUGE, HUGE holes -- remind me, who's their closer again?

Motte, hows our 2nd base refuse going over?